Antonio Valencia feels 'awful' about the way Cristiano Ronaldo left Man Utd (Image: GETTY)
Antonio Valencia feels 'awful' that Cristiano Ronaldo did not get the send off he deserved at Manchester United. The seasoned veteran saw his contract terminated by mutual consent in November following his explosive interview with Piers Morgan as Erik ten Hag and the board cut their losses with the forward.
But Valencia cannot help but feel sad about the way United icon Ronaldo bowed out following a turbulent second spell at the club.
He feels as though while it didn't work out, it's sad the way it ended for the five-time Ballon d'Or winner given all he has achieved at United.
The Ecuadorian told The Athletic: "It was too bad Cristiano Ronaldo left Manchester United in the way he did. A player like him should leave a club by walking off the pitch to applause at a sold-out stadium. The people there loved him.
"The interview he gave recently was unfortunate. He'll have his reasons for saying what he did, but I felt awful about the way he left the club. It hurt.
Cristiano Ronaldo is now being tasked with finding a new club (Image: Getty)
Antonio Valencia joined Man Utd as Cristiano Roanldo was departing the club (Image: Getty)
"I hope everything goes well for him at his new club. I wish Ronaldo nothing but the best."
Ronaldo is now set to focus his efforts on finding a new club - preferably in Europe - ahead of the January transfer window.
The prolific attacker has already received one lucrative proposal from Saudi Arabian side Al-Nassr that is being studied by his lawyers.
But still, it's understood Ronaldo would favour staying in Europe should he get the chance to continue his venture inside the continent's top divisions.
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Al-Nassr president Musalli Al Muammar recently played down links to Ronaldo during a sarcastic, jokey interview to stir the pot following their big-money offer.
When quizzed by SSC Sports on their interest, he replied: "Who is Ronaldo? I don't know him."
Before adding: "Victory preoccupies people, they even talk about a player's number in a training session, and Cristiano is busy with the World Cup during the last period. I don't think that he is in negotiations with anyone."
Al-Nassr boss Rudi Garcia refused to comment on the club's interest having previously come close to managing Ronaldo following an interim appointment interview at United in 2020.
Garcia told AS: "I can't say anything about Cristiano because otherwise it would immediately appear in the headlines: 'Garcia: about Ronaldo'. What I see is that it has been a soap opera and it has been a very important promotion for Al Nassr.
"I think that any coach would be delighted to train a great star like Cristiano and, already in November 2021, I was very close to going to United.
"They chose Ralf Rangnick, but I met twice with John Murtough and Darren Fletcher."
Jorge Mendes is expected to be involved in helping Ronaldo find a new club as the player continues to train at Real Madrid's Valdebebas complex to tick his fitness levels over.